WAC Basketball: Can Seattle or Grand Canyon challenge for the title in 2019?

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Morgan Means #1 of the Seattle Redhawks celebrates on the court after hitting a buzzer-beating shot at the end of hte first half against the New Mexico State Aggies during a semifinal game of the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 09: Grand Canyon Lopes fans cheer during the team’s semifinal game of the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament against the Utah Valley Wolverines at the Orleans Arena on March 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. GCU won 75-60. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

Grand Canyon could also challenge in the WAC

Grand Canyon has quickly earned the reputation as one of the best defensive teams in the country. They were the best in the country last season at defending the three-point shot allowing teams to shoot just 27.8%. They also gave up just 65 points per game, grabbed over 38 rebounds per game and forced 15 turnovers per contest, ranking the Antelopes in the top 39 in all three categories.

The key returners for the Lopes are sophomore and leading scorer, 6-10 Alessandro Lever who scored 12 points and grabbed over four rebounds per game, 6-7 Oscar Frayer and 6-10 Roberts Blumbergs who combined for 14.7 points and 8.2 rebounds.

The newcomers for Majerle include J.J. Rhymes, a 6-4 guard from Hutchinson Community College in Kansas where he earned All-American status after averaging 19.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and three assists. Trey Drechsel is a 6-6-point guard who transferred from Western Washington for his senior season, he averaged 14.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists playing the point.

The Finke brothers, Tim, a freshman and Michael a graduate student from Illinois. Tim, a 6-6 guard led his team to a state championship as a junior with 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. The older Michael, a 6-10 forward contributed 9.8 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Illini last season.

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2018 may signal a changing of the guard in the WAC, if someone other than New Mexico State sits atop the conference in March, don’t be surprised if either the Redhawks or Antelopes are the new king of the hill.